Project Lifesaver is a program designed to deliver rapid emergency personnel response to individuals who wander as a result of Alzheimer’s, Dementia, Autism, Down syndrome or other related conditions. Recent research done by the National Autism Association shows approximately 92% of autistic children are at risk for wandering. According to The Alzheimer’s Association more than 60% or Alzheimer’s and dementia sufferers will wander. Almost half of wandering dementia patients will succumb to serious injury or death if not located within the first 24 hours. These searches can be costly and unsuccessful and end in tragedy if proper measures are not in place.

Project Lifesaver offers precautionary methods and equipment to help minimize search time and return individuals safely to their loved ones. Individuals enrolled in this program wear a personal transmitter around their wrist or ankle that emits a tracking signal specific to the wearer. The signal can be tracked by local law enforcement agencies certified by Project Lifesaver.

The Grant County Sheriff’s Department is a certified Project Lifesaver agency. There are currently 16 officers at the department trained in the program, with a certified officer on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Three adults and six children are enrolled in the program in Grant County. The last four searches conducted in Grant County had an average recovery time of less than six minutes.